RAF captain tweeted picture of failed engine.. whilst he was in the air

RAF LOSSIEMOUTH commander Ian Gale was flying over the north of England when he took the terrifying snap.

The terrifying sight of a stopped propeller was tweeted by the coolly calm Captain Gale

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THE fearless commander of RAF ­Lossiemouth didn’t panic when one of his plane’s engines failed – he took to Twitter.

Group Captain Ian Gale was flying over the north of England when smoke started billowing from a propeller on the plane.

But instead of saying his prayers, he calmly told his Twitter followers what was going on before making an emergency landing.

The military chief had been flying with Wing Commander Jonathon Moreton, who commands XV Squadron, after visiting BAE Systems in Lancashire when ­problems began last Thursday.

His first post on Twitter read: “Things you don’t want to see out of your 2-engined plane window” along with a picture of the broken and stationary propeller.

He later added: “Coming in to land at Newcastle. Smoke stopped, engine shut down and fingers crossed!”

His Twitter followers waited nervously for news before Group Captain Gale’s next message, which said: “And safely down. Thank you to our crew for excellent drills and Newcastle Airport staff for swift response.”

The men then completed their journey home to Moray by train.

Emergency services were on standby as the plane landed in Newcastle

Group Captain Gale previously worked in air command during the Libyan conflict and also served at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

He took over at RAF Lossiemouth from Group Captain Andy Hine at the start of November last year.

In July, he led tributes to four men killed when two Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth crashed near Wick.